THE CHINESE WEEPING CYPRESS. 97 



The Chinese Weeping Cypress is an evergreen weeping 

 tree^ one of tlie recent importations from Cliuiaj and if we 

 may judge from the description given by Mr. Tortime, 

 wlio introduced it — ^for we have seen it only in a young 

 state, — it is one of the finest of its class. In his inter- 

 esting work on ' The Tea Districts of India and China/ 

 he says, " It is a noble fir-like tree, about sixty feet in 

 height, having a stem straight as a Norfolk Island pine 

 {Araucaria excelsa), and pendulous branches like the 

 weeping willow. The branches grow at first horizon- 

 tally with the main stem, then describe a graceful curve 

 upwards, and drooping again at the points. From these 

 main branches others long and slender hang down 

 towards the ground, and give the whole tree a weeping 

 and graceful form.^^ This tree appears to be hardy, and 

 if it maintains that character, it will be an interesting 

 addition to the scenery of the park and pleasure-ground, 

 and should be planted wherever its form is admissible. 

 Avenues composed of it would have a charming effect ; 

 and these avenues, as the tree is only of medium size, 

 would not require to be of such dimensions as those 

 planted with English elm or lime or deodar. 



It remains to be noted that the forms of trees vary in 

 some measure with the season. Their internal configu- 

 ration is most conspicuous in winter, when the leafiess 

 branches disclose the inner carpentry of boughs, and 

 too often, indeed, reveal deformities. Summer, with its 

 veil of foliage, shades much of the peculiar structure 

 of trees. Towards the end of June luxuriant sycamores 

 sometimes suggest the idea of masses of green vapour 

 reposing in the atmosphere, an appearance very difierent, 

 certainly, from the numerous crossing limbs, and forked 

 branches, and brush-like twigs presented by the winter 



